mid-division early, soon settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, 4th and slight mistake 6 out, left 3rd, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, 2nd run-in, kept on without troubling winner
always towards rear, badly hampered 6 out, no impression next, weakened
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, 3rd run-in and pressed 2nd
chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to dispute when left in lead 6 out, ridden and headed entering straight, under pressure in 2nd 2 out, no extra in 4th run-in, kept on one pace
mid-division, pushed along from 6th, weakened before 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
led, joined when fell 6 out
always towards rear, no impression from 5 out, weakened
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, left 2nd 6 out, led entering straight, asserted by 3-lengths before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, no impression in moderate 6th 4 out, 5th before next, weakened and no danger
chased leaders, 4th halfway, hampered 6 out, slow 5 out, dropped to moderate 5th next, soon no extra and weakened
A Grade 2 winner over hurdles at Naas, BALL D’ARC goes chasing for the first time. Related to winners over fences in France, Gordon Elliott’s charge is preferred to Three Stars. The latter is also a decent hurdler with a Grade 3 novice event to his name but he never figured when starting favourite on his chasing bow at Tramore in June. Our Dougal has the best form over the larger obstacles with a couple of seconds at Killarney and Tramore while Wes Hardin went close over fences at Downpatrick last month and should also go well.
Ball D'Arc (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Held up in 5th, bumped at 2nd, slightly bumped at 5th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, soon trailing, last of 6, 26 1/4l behind Don't Touch It (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Fairymount Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, ridden in moderate 7th and no impression 3 out, soon no extra, 7th of 10, dist behind Killiney Court (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f Yielding in Aug.
Inis Meain (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Soon disputed, led after 1 1/2f, ridden and headed 3f out, no extra 2f out, 12th of 14, 22 1/2l behind Golden Spear (8-4) at Galway 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Lake Takapuna (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Soon disputed lead, slight mistake 3rd, led 3 out, jumped slightly left 2 out, slight mistake last, soon strongly pressed, headed closing stages and dropped to 5th near line, 5th of 16, 1 1/4l behind Scamall Dubh (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Jul.
Mackey Boy (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) A little slow jumping off and reminder, soon mid-division, reminders from 2nd, 7th from 4th, soon under pressure and lost place, pulled up after 5th, at Limerick 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Our Dougal (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Soon led, mistake 7th, slight mistake 4 out, pressed when bad mistake and went left 2 out, joined between last 2, narrowly headed run-in, kept on well without quite matching winner, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Tempo Mac (11-12) at Tramore 2m gd in Aug.
Patricks Park (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th after 3rd, 2nd halfway, driven before 2 out, no impression on leader, dropped to 3rd 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, 4th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Intifadah (11-2) at Tramore 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Three Stars (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, 6th when left 5th 3 out, soon pushed along, no impression on leaders from 2 out, 5th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Baily Cloud (11-12) at Tramore 2m gd in Jun.
Wes Hardin (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division and not fluent 1st, 5th before 6 out, not fluent 5 out, closer in 4th before 3 out and improved to challenge before next, pushed along to lead last and ridden run-in, headed inside final 100 yards and no extra close home, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Odit (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f gd in Aug.
Table Tips (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders. moderate 4th halfway, ridden in 6th but closer 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 10, dist behind Killiney Court (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f Yielding in Aug.
